Maxim Rysanov (Viola) & Ashley Wass (Piano)

Programme

Schubert: Arpeggione Sonata

Desyatnikov: Wie der Alte Leiemann

Schumann: Adagio & Allegro

Tabakova: Lullaby

Hindemith: Sonata Opus 11 No.4

Artists

‘Rysanov really claims the music for his lush-toned 1780 Guadagnini viola in a manner that few can rival...No admirer of great viola playing should forgo the pleasures of Rysanov’s playing.’ Sunday Times
Ukrainian-British violist and conductor Maxim Rysanov has established himself as one of the world’s most vibrant and charismatic musicians. He is principally known for his performances as a violist at international festivals such as The BBC Last Night of the Proms, Edinburgh Festival and Salzburg Festival. He now combines viola with a career as a conductor. Among recent highlights are concertos with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra and the Seattle Symphony under conductors including Philippe Herreweghe, Vasily Petrenko, Yan Pascal Tortelier and Jiří Bělohlávek. His chamber music partners include Leif Ove Andsnes, Nicola Benedetti, Michael Collins, Alice Coote, Martin Fröst, Janine Jansen, Gidon Kremer, Viktoria Mullova, Maxim Vengerov and Ashley Wass. Maxim’s many awards include the Classic FM Gramophone Young Artist of the Year Award and the BBC Radio 3 New Generation Award, as well as the Geneva, Lionel Tertis and Valentino Bucchi competitions. Maxim's first solo commercial CD was garlanded with a Gramophone Editor's Choice award; his next two releases gained the same accolade and a fourth reached the top of the itunes chart in the USA.
‘A thoroughbred who possesses the enviable gift to turn almost anything he plays into pure gold.’ (Gramophone Magazine)
Described as an ‘endlessly fascinating artist’, Ashley Wass is firmly established as one of the leading performers of his generation. He is the only British winner of the London International Piano Competition, prizewinner at the Leeds Piano Competition, and a former BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist. Ashley has performed at many of the world’s finest concert halls including Wigmore Hall, Carnegie Hall and the Vienna Konzerthaus, as soloist with numerous leading ensembles including all of the BBC orchestras, the Philharmonia, Vienna Chamber Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic, RLPO, and under the baton of conductors such as Simon Rattle, Donald Runnicles and Vassily Sinaisky. In June 2002 he appeared alongside the likes of Sir Thomas Allen, Mstislav Rostropovich and Angela Gheorghiu in a gala concert at Buckingham Palace to mark the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, a performance broadcast live to millions of viewers around the world. In recent years he has become a regular guest at the BBC Proms, making his debut in 2008 with Vaughan Williams’ Piano Concerto, and returning in following seasons to perform works by Foulds, Stravinsky, Antheil, and McCabe. Renowned for a broad and eclectic repertoire, Ashley has received great critical acclaim for his recordings of music from a wide range of styles and eras. Much in demand as a chamber musician, Ashley regularly partners many of the leading artists of his generation at the world’s great international festivals.